John McFall Earns His Private Pilot's Licence with Aerobility
Aerobility is delighted to announce that John McFall has successfully passed his Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) Skill Test, marking another remarkable milestone in an already extraordinary career.
John is a Paralympian, surgeon and astronaut with the European Space Agency. In 2024, he became the first person with a physical disability to be medically cleared for long-duration missions to the International Space Station, following his selection for the European Space Agency's pioneering feasibility study on astronauts with physical disabilities.
After losing his right leg in a motorcycle accident at the age of 19, John went on to win a bronze medal in the 100m sprint at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games before qualifying as a doctor and later joining the European astronaut programme.
As part of his wider training and personal development, John began learning to fly with Aerobility at Blackbushe Airport. Working alongside the charity's instructors, he developed the skills, confidence and decision-making needed to fly light aircraft, while flying adapted aircraft designed to make aviation accessible for people with disabilities.
Reflecting on his journey, John said:
"Aerobility have given me a huge amount of confidence in my journey to being able to fly light aircraft and that's what's so important about learning to fly – that freedom, that independence that you get from doing that. Aerobility provide a platform for people who may not think they have the potential to fly because they have a disability and all of a sudden, they can get into an aircraft, learn to fly, and that's a huge confidence builder for them. So, for me it's been a great challenge and a great confidence builder."
Aerobility's Chief Flying Instructor, Al Rosser, said that teaching John had been a unique and rewarding experience. While the charity's aircraft are already adapted for pilots with limited lower limb mobility, John worked closely with instructors to tailor the controls to suit his prosthetic and flying style. Rosser also highlighted that the training developed key skills such as airmanship, communication, decision-making and hand-eye coordination – all qualities that are equally valuable in astronaut training.
John's successful PPL Skill Test is not only a personal achievement but also a powerful demonstration of what is possible when barriers to aviation are removed. His journey reflects Aerobility's mission to empower disabled people through the life-changing experience of flight, giving individuals the confidence, freedom and independence to achieve ambitions they may once have thought impossible.
Congratulations to John on becoming a Private Pilot's Licence holder. Everyone at Aerobility looks forward to following the next chapter of his journey, both in the skies and, hopefully, beyond them.
